# 1 - - Tribune, January 14 1914

STEPHEN SAMS

Stephen Sams was born in Highland Co., Ohio, Aug. 14, 1837, and died at Blair, Nebraska, Jan. 9, 1914, aged seventy-six years and four months.

When young, he came with his parents to Jones co., Iowa, where he resided for more than forty years, thence to Nebraska. In 1862, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Wagner. Mrs. Sams died Aug. 26, 1908. The children surviving are E.E. of Delaware, Okla.; H.L. of Scottsbluffs, Nebr.; M.A. of Blair, Nebr.; Mrs. L.R. Porter of Omaha; Mrs. E.E. Gaines of Blair; Mrs. W.H. Shroaf of Rising City, Nebr.

At the age of nineteen years Mr. Sams united with the Methodist Episcopal church and was an active worker in the same until laid aside by sickness which resulted in his death.

The funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. G.B. Warren of the Methodist church, at the home of Mrs. Gaines on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. and body was taken on 11 a.m. train for interment at Elmwood, Nebr., where his wife was buried.

# 2 - - Enterprise, January 16, 1914

DEATH OF STEPHEN SAMS

Stephen Sams, who has been very sick for several months died on Friday, Jan. 9, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.E. Gaines, in this city, of heart trouble, superinduced by bronchial and lung affection.(infection)

Stephen Sams was born in Highland county, Ohio, August 14, 1837, and was, therefore, 76 years and 4 months of age.

When a boy, he came with his parents to Jones county, Iowa, where he resided for more than 10 years. In 1862 he was married to Miss Mary Jane Wagner, who died in August 1908.

Mr. Sams has been a member of the Methodist church since he was 19 years old and has been one of the substantial dependable men of whatever community claimed him. He leaves a warm affection in the hearts of his children and many friends who survive him.

On Saturday the body was taken to Elmwood, Nebr., his former home, where the funeral was held on Sunday and interment made in the cemetery where his wife and a son are buried.

The surviving children are M.A. Sams and Mrs. Elmer Gaines of this city, who were devoted to him during his illness and who never considered any duty too heavy that would add to “father’s” comfort or enjoyment; E.E. Sams, of Delaware, Okla.; H.E. Sams of Scottsbluff, Nebr.; Mrs. L. Porter of Omaha; and Mrs. W.H. Schroaf of Rising City, all of whom were present at the funeral.

# 3 - - Blair Democrat, January 15, 1914

STEPHEN SAMS DEAD

Death, after a long illness, came to Stephen Sams Saturday morning, January 9th.

Mr. Sams was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1837, and was a resident of Jones county, Iowa, for a number of years. He came to Blair a year or more ago with his daughter, Mrs. E.E. Gaines, and has since made his home with her.

Mr. Sams had long been identified with the Methodist church and the services were conducted by his pastor, the Rev. Warren, Sunday morning, after which the body was taken to Elmwood, Neb., for burial by the side of his wife, who died in 1908.

Mr. Sams was closer to his children than most fathers and leaves to mourn him three sons and three daughters: E.E. Sams of Delaware, Okl.; H.E. of Scotts Bluffs, Neb.; M.A. of Blair; Mrs. L.R. Porter of Omaha; Mrs. W.H. Shoaf of Rising City; and Mrs. E.E. Gaines of Blair.

# 4 - - from The Pilot, January 14, 1914

After months of patient suffering with heart trouble, Stephen Sams passed peacefully away at 12 o’clock last Thursday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.E. Gaines. He was ready and anxious to go but his rugged constitution held out much longer than seemed possible. Rev. G.B. Warren conducted a short funeral service at 10 o’clock Saturday morning and the body was taken to Elmwood, Neb., where a final service was held at 11 o’clock Sunday morning by Rev. Van Fleet. Stephen Sams was born in Highland county, Ohio, Aug. 14, 1837, and died at Blair, Nebraska, Jan. 9, 1914, age 76 years, 4 months and 25 days. He came with his parents to Jones county, Iowa, at the age of 5 years, where he resided more than forty years. He was united in marriage to Mary Jane Wagner in 1862, to which union was born nine childen, six boys and three girls, six of whom, with one brother, Edward Sams, of Cambridge, Nebr., and Mrs. Mary Botsford, Moscow, Idaho, survive him. The surviving children are: E.E. Sams, of Delaware, Okla.; H.L. Sams, of Scottsbluff, Neb.; M.A. Sams, of this city; and Mrs. Rev. W.H. Shoaf, Rising City, Neb. One nephew, Ezra Sams, of Anamosa, Iowa, was in attendance at the funeral. At the breaking out of the civil war, the deceased enlisted in company E of the 14th Iowa. In 1884 he moved with his family from Jones county, Iowa, to Pawnee county, Nebr., where he resided until 1894, moving thence to a farm near Elmwood, Nebr. In 1904 he moved to Scottsbluff, Neb., where he resided until last April, when he came to Blair, making his home with a daughter, Mrs. E.E. Gaines. The wife and mother passed away at Scottsbluff August 26, 1908, and was laid to rest in the Elmwood cemetery where also the father was taken last Saturday for burial. In 1856 he united with the United Brethren church and for nearly three score of years lived an active and consistent Christian life. At the time of his death he was a member of the M.E. church in this city. Besides the six children in attendance at the funeral, were Edward Sams, an only brother, of Cambridge, Nebr.; Ezra Sams, a nephew, of Anamosa, Ia. One sister, Mrs. Mary Botsford, of Moscow, Idaho, was unable to attend.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

FindaGrave memorial # 119892630